Herpestidae

Herpestidae is a family of carnivorous mammals that includes mongooses and meerkats. Its members are mostly small, terrestrial predators native to Africa and Asia.

Mongoose: A small carnivorous mammal in the family Herpestidae, with many species native to Africa and Asia. Mongooses make up most of the family’s familiar diversity.
Venom resistance: The reduced sensitivity of some animals to toxins that would harm other species. Some mongooses withstand certain snake venoms, aiding their encounters with venomous prey.
Egyptian mongoose: A widespread mongoose species found in parts of Africa and the Middle East. It exemplifies the family’s broad distribution and varied diet.
Herpestoidea: A feliform grouping that includes mongooses and several related carnivore lineages. Herpestidae is one branch within this broader evolutionary grouping.
Meerkat: A small, social mongoose species native to southern Africa, known for upright sentry behavior. Meerkats are a distinctive, highly social member of the family.
Snake predation: Predation in which one animal captures and consumes snakes. Several mongoose species hunt snakes, though they are not universally immune to venom.
Banded mongoose: A social mongoose species of sub-Saharan Africa that lives in groups and forages cooperatively. Its group life offers a contrast to more solitary mongoose species.
Carnivoran phylogeny: The evolutionary relationships among living and extinct members of the order Carnivora. Phylogenetic studies establish where Herpestidae sits among feliform families.
Feliformia: A mammalian suborder of carnivorans that includes cats, hyenas, civets, and mongooses. Herpestidae belongs to this branch of the order Carnivora.
Biological pest control: The use of living organisms to suppress pests that damage crops or threaten health. Mongooses were introduced to islands in attempts to control rats and snakes.

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